Conditioned plasma promotes full-thickness skin defect healing in a rat model

Introduction

Blood derivatives may enhance wound healing, but each possesses distinct characteristics and has yielded varying outcomes in patient treatment. This research seeks to examine the efficacy of conditioned plasma (CP) using polylactic acid (PLA) coated beads and to compare it with CP using bare beads and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the context of acute wound healing.

Methods

Blood was collected from 7 volunteer donors in three tubes containing ACD anticoagulant, PLA coated, or bare beads and incubated for 6 h at 37 °C. The concentration of VEGF, PDGF, TGF-β, IL-1β, IL-13, and IL-1Ra were measured by ELISA. Full-thickness wounds were made on the back of rats. PRP, CP with PLA-coated bead or bare beads, and phosphate buffer saline as control were administered to the wound area. Wound closure rate at days 3, 7, 10, and 14; epithelialization, fibroblast cells, inflammatory cells infiltration, new collagen formation, new vessel, and immunohistochemistry (CD31, α-SMA) were measured 14 days after the incision.

Results

The concentration of VEGF, PDGF, TGF-β, IL1-β, and IL-1Ra was significantly higher in CPs than in PRP (p < 0.05). CP with PLA-coated beads promoted wound closure and improved skin wound healing (p < 0.05), which was associated with enhanced epithelialization, fibroblast cell proliferation, new collagen formation, and reduced inflammatory cells infiltration. Immunohistochemistry showed an increase in CD31 and α-SMA levels in the treatment groups compared to the control group, but this increase was insignificant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

CP promotes wound healing by increasing epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis and deposition, and reducing inflammatory cells infiltration.